Big Pharma backs tropical disease plan
Aim is to boost flow of drugs to fight lower profile tropical diseases
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says four major medicine companies are backing an initiative to boost the flow of pharmaceuticals fighting lower profile tropical diseases.
In its report, Working to overcome the global impact of neglected tropical diseases, the WHO suggests ways of fighting 17 illnesses such as Buruli ulcer disease; Chagas disease; dengue fever and guinea-worm disease.
Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-aventis, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson have agreed to help fight these diseases with related philanthropic initiatives, the WHO said.